Thomas Struth was born in the town of Geldern in western Germany in 1954. His father was a lawyer and banker, and his mother was a potter. Over his father’s objection, Struth enrolled in the Dusseldorf Arts Academy, where he first studied painting under Gerhard Richter, and later studied photography with Bernd and Hilla Becher. Recently, Struth has made headlines for his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, taken to mark the Queen’s 2012 Diamond Jubilee. When he first started his career, Thomas Struth became known for his "Unconscious Places” series, which featured cityscapes almost entirely devoid of people. A selection of 56 photographs from this series are now on display at the Venice Architecture Biennale through November 2012. After spending four decades in the Rhineland, Thomas Struth moved to Berlin in 2011. He is married to American author Tara Bray Smith.
Talking Germany's host Peter Craven talks with Thomas Struth about photography, family dynamics, and our faith in progress.
Features on these issues provide subjects for discussion and enhance the conversation on Talking Germany. Peter Craven and Thomas Struth speak about his work as a photographer, the idea behind his family portrait series, his green politics, and his recent projects.